Lottery launch to keep Albrighton pool afloat
More then 100 tickets were sold at the re-launch of a lottery aimed at keeping a Shropshire swimming pool afloat.
Volunteers who look after Albrighton Swimming Pool are looking at new ways to cover its annual running costs.
An event was held in the village on Saturday where people could enjoy a host of musical performances and buy tickets for the draw.
Entertainment was provided by the RAF Cosford Voluntary Band, conducted by Pat Ryon, formerly of the Royal Marines Band Dartmouth.
There was also Albrighton Primary School Children's Choir, The Village Vocals, Albrighton Musical Theatre Co and Jones In The Fast Lane Band.
Organisers from the Friends of Albrighton Swimming Pool said the event was a great success and it was a good start to the project. Roger Rudman, organiser, said the launch on Saturday went very well.
He said: "We are almost up to where we hoped to be in regards to lottery ticket sales.
"There is still plenty of time to get a ticket as the first draw it not until the last Saturday in February.
"We have sold about 100 today, but we would like to ultimately sell about 1,000.
"More than 300 would cover our costs for running the pool.
"The more people who enter the bigger the prize fund.
"We will hopefully we holding more of these events in the future."
The new lottery will be made on a monthly basis, with 50 per cent of the net proceeds of tickets sold divided between the first nine winning tickets and the balance allocated to the running costs of Albrighton Swimming Pool.
In 2014 the Shropshire School Forum re-distributed joint-use funding for swimming pools and sports centres, leading to a serious reduction in funds for the pool.
Albrighton Parish Council stepped in to help cover the deficit from its budget from 2016 to 2017. But the volunteers are now looking for new ways to generate money to funds the pool in future.
In future lottery entry forms will be available from the library, Albrighton Primary School and St Mary's Primary School or can be downloaded from www.swimalbrighton.co.uk
Volunteers are also on the hunt for corporate sponsors to generate further funds.
